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TL;DR
- The current Ram 1500 (internally "DT") launched for 2019; the previous "DS" truck was sold alongside it as the Ram 1500 Classic until production ended at Warren Truck in 2024.
- Coil springs at the rear are not new to the DT: Ram introduced its multi-link coil rear suspension in 2009, and the Classic kept it.
- There are three 2026 transfer cases, all with a 2.64:1 low range: part-time (Tradesman, Express, Warlock), on-demand with 4WD Auto (Big Horn, Rebel, Laramie, Longhorn, Limited, Tungsten) and full-time (RHO).
- An electronic locking rear differential is standard on Warlock, Rebel and RHO and optional on most other trims.
- The 3.0L EcoDiesel EGR-cooler recall (19V757) is diesel-only, and the power-tailgate recalls depend on bed length and build date, so check the configuration, not just the model year.
At a Glance
| If your 2026 Ram 1500 is a… | What its 4WD does | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Tradesman, Express or Warlock | Part-time case: 2WD, 4WD High, 4WD Low | Work sites, snow, dirt roads |
| Big Horn, Laramie, Longhorn, Limited or Tungsten | On-demand case adds 4WD Auto | Mixed weather where grip changes often |
| Rebel | On-demand case plus a standard rear locker | Trails and ruts |
| RHO | Full-time case with drive-mode torque splits, rear locker, 11.8 in of clearance | High-speed desert and washboard roads |
Generations and Model Years
Ram's 2019 announcement names the old truck the "DS" and the all-new 2019 Ram 1500 the "DT," and says both would be sold at dealers, the old one badged "Classic" and aimed at entry and commercial buyers. In August 2024 Stellantis said Classic production at the Warren (Michigan) Truck Assembly Plant would end later that year as the new 2025 Ram 1500 launched. The DT is built at Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Ram introduced its multi-link coil-spring rear suspension in 2009, and the Classic kept it, so a coil rear is not unique to the DT. The 2019 DT frame is 98 percent high-strength steel, and Ram says the new truck weighed about 225 lb less than the one it replaced.
The TRX, with a 702-hp, 650-lb-ft supercharged 6.2L V8, debuted for 2021; Ram closed its run with a 2024 Final Edition limited to 4,000 units and said production would end in late 2023. Ram says the 1500 lineup shifted to six-cylinder engines for the 2025 model year, and the 5.7L HEMI V8 returned for 2026.
4WD Systems and Rear Axles (2026)
| Transfer case | Modes | Low range | Paired with |
|---|---|---|---|
| BorgWarner 48-12 part-time | 2WD High, 4WD High (locked), Neutral, 4WD Low (locked) | 2.64:1 | 3.6L V6 and 3.0L I6 |
| BorgWarner 48-11 on-demand | Adds 4WD Auto | 2.64:1 | 3.0L I6 and 5.7L HEMI |
| BorgWarner 48-13 full-time | 4WD Auto, 4WD High and Low (locked); no 2WD | 2.64:1 | 3.0L I6 High Output (RHO) |
Ram's sheet labels 4WD High and 4WD Low as "Locked" on all three cases and lists no center differential in any of them. The RHO's full-time case varies the front/rear split by mode: 40/60 in Auto, 45/55 in Wet/Snow and Tow, 25/75 in Baja and 50/50 in 4 Low.
Rear axles are a 235 mm unit (open, limited-slip or electronic locking) or a 260 mm unit with a limited-slip or locker; ratios are 3.21, 3.55 and 3.92. The electronic locker is standard on Warlock, Rebel and RHO; on other trims it is optional, and on a standard-height truck it is available only with the 3.92 ratio. It is included in the 4x4 Off-road Group, which also adds skid plates, tow hooks, off-road shocks, hill-descent control and all-terrain tires.
Engines, Towing and Payload (2026)
| Engine | Output | Max towing | Max payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L Pentastar V6 eTorque | 305 hp, 269 lb-ft | 8,130 lb | 2,360 lb |
| 5.7L HEMI V8 eTorque | 395 hp, 410 lb-ft | 11,320 lb | 1,650 lb |
| 3.0L Hurricane I6 (SO) | 420 hp, 469 lb-ft | 11,610 lb | 1,930 lb |
| 3.0L Hurricane I6 (HO) | 540 hp, 521 lb-ft | 10,000 lb | 1,490 lb |
The V6 uses the TorqueFlite 850RE eight-speed automatic; the I6 and HEMI use the TorqueFlite 8HP75 eight-speed. The High Output I6 requires premium fuel; the standard I6 recommends it.
Clearance and Fitment
Ram's 2026 sheet lists 8.6–8.7 in of ground clearance for a 4x4 crew cab on steel springs (8.1 in with skid plates), 10.7 in for the four-corner air suspension in Off Road 2, and 11.8 in for the RHO. Approach angle is 18.8° on a standard 4x4 and 31.0° on the RHO. The RHO is a different fitment case: its track is 74.4 in front (68.5 in on other trims), it is 88.0 in wide and its wheelbase is 145.1 in instead of 144.6 in.
| Body (2026) | Wheelbase | Box length at floor |
|---|---|---|
| Quad Cab, 6 ft 4 in box | 140.6 in | 76.3 in |
| Crew Cab, 5 ft 7 in box | 144.6 in | 67.4 in |
| Crew Cab, 6 ft 4 in box | 153.5 in | 76.3 in |
Both boxes have 51.0 in between the wheelhouses, and tonneau covers and bed racks are sold by box length. The DT and the Classic share the Ram 1500 name but are different trucks, so lift, leveling and bumper parts are listed separately.
Recall History (NHTSA)
As of September 2026, NHTSA returns 64 vehicle campaigns that include a 2019–2026 Ram 1500; many are shared with other Stellantis models. The ones owners ask about most:
| Campaign | Filed | Vehicles | Problem | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V495 | Jul 2026 | 2019–2026 Ram 1500 | Second-row center and left seat-belt buckle anchors may be improperly installed | 1,271,294 |
| 22V904 | Dec 2022 | 2019–2022 Ram 1500/2500/3500 | Misaligned tailgate strikers can let the tailgate open while driving | 1,224,078 |
| 24V653 | Sep 2024 | 2019, 2021–2024 Ram 1500 | ABS module software can disable electronic stability control | 1,025,432 |
| 18V486 / 19V347 | 2018 / 2019 | 2013–2018 Ram 1500/2500/3500 with a power-locking tailgate (bed length and build date vary) | Tailgate actuator limiter tab can fracture and the tailgate can open | 1,149,223 / 1,103,209 |
| 19V757 | Oct 2019 | 2014–2019 Ram 1500 and Classic, 3.0L EcoDiesel | EGR cooler can crack and let coolant combust in the intake manifold (fire risk) | 107,980 |
| 22V406 | Jun 2022 | 2014–2019 Ram 1500, 2014–2020 Grand Cherokee, 3.0L diesel | High-pressure fuel pump failure can starve the engine | 138,645 |
The power-tailgate campaigns split by configuration: 18V486 covers 2015–2017 trucks with a 5 ft 7 in or 6 ft 4 in bed, while 19V347 covers 2015–2017 trucks with an 8 ft bed plus 2013–2014 and early-2018 trucks with a 6 ft or 8 ft bed.
Ram 1500 Owner Pages
- 4wd auto ram 1500
- Problems & Maintenance
- Mod Priorities
- Best Tonneau Covers
- Best Leveling Kits
- Best Seat Covers
- Best Front Bumpers
- How Many Miles Will It Last?
- Ram accessory fitment hub
Check for Open Recalls
Look up open NHTSA recall campaigns for this model by year. This calls NHTSA's free, public recall API directly from your browser — nothing is sent to us.
Choose a year and select “Check Recalls”.
Data from NHTSA's public recall API — this lookup is not the official record and 4x4 & Overlanding is not affiliated with NHTSA. Always confirm current recall status at nhtsa.gov/recalls using your vehicle's VIN before assuming a vehicle has no open recalls.
Toyota, Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, Jeep and Ram are trademarks of their respective owners. 4x4 & Overlanding is an independent publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by any vehicle manufacturer.
Sources
- Stellantis — 2026 Ram 1500 Specifications — Sterling Heights assembly, engines and outputs, transmissions, BorgWarner 48-12, 48-11 and 48-13 transfer cases, modes, low range and RHO torque splits, rear axles and ratios, suspension, box dimensions, wheelbases, track, ground clearance and angles.
- Stellantis — 2026 Ram 1500 Feature Availability — Transfer case by trim, electronic locking rear differential availability, 4x4 Off-road Group contents, air suspension availability.
- Stellantis — What's New for 2026: Ram 1500 — 2026 engines with maximum towing and payload for each.
- Stellantis — 2026 Ram 1500 HEMI V-8 returns — Lineup shifted to six-cylinder engines for 2025; 5.7L HEMI returns for 2026.
- Stellantis — Ram 1500 Classic badge for 2019 — DS (Classic) and DT (all-new 2019 Ram 1500) naming and the two sold side by side.
- Stellantis — End of Ram 1500 Classic production at Warren Truck — Classic production ending in 2024 as the 2025 Ram 1500 launched.
- Stellantis — 2019 Ram 1500 engineering — Multi-link coil rear suspension introduced in 2009, 98 percent high-strength steel frame, about 225 lb weight saving.
- Stellantis — 2024 Ram 1500 TRX Final Edition — TRX debut in 2021, 702 hp and 650 lb-ft, 4,000-unit Final Edition, production ending late 2023.
- NHTSA — Recall 26V495 — 2019–2026 second-row seat-belt buckle anchors, 1,271,294 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 22V904 — 2019–2022 tailgate striker misalignment, 1,224,078 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 24V653 — ABS software can disable stability control, 1,025,432 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 18V486 — 2015–2017 power-locking tailgate, 5 ft 7 in and 6 ft 4 in beds, 1,149,223 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 19V347 — Power-locking tailgate, 8 ft beds and 2013–2014/early-2018 trucks, 1,103,209 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 19V757 — 2014–2019 EcoDiesel EGR cooler fire risk, 107,980 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 22V406 — 3.0L diesel high-pressure fuel pump, 138,645 units.
- NHTSA — Datasets and APIs (Recalls API) — Campaign counts by model and model year and potentially affected unit totals, pulled September 28, 2026.
- NHTSA — Recalls lookup by VIN — Where owners check a specific vehicle's open recalls.